Emily
Smoke always found me first.
It slipped into my dreams before I even opened my eyes, filling my lungs until every breath burned. Even after five years, I could still recognize the smell. Ash. Burnt wood. And something I never wanted to remember.
Suddenly, I was twenty again, standing barefoot at the end of a dark hallway. The walls were black with soot, and the floor creaked beneath my feet. Somewhere in the distance, someone was calling my name.
"Cora..."
The voice echoed through the darkness. My heart pounded as I took a step back, away from the bedroom door at the end of the hall.
I knew what was inside, but I couldn't bring myself to look.
A flash of silver and a piercing scream.
Fire racing across old wooden floors with blood on my shaking hands.
The memories came in pieces, each one more painful than the last.
"Cora!"
The voice was louder now. I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out.
Then everything disappeared.
I sat upright with a gasp. For a moment, I couldn't tell where I was.
My chest rose and fell as I looked around the room. Soft morning light filtered through the blinds.
Home.
I looked down at my hands, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.
"It was only a dream," I whispered.
But it hadn't felt like one. I knew memories when they came looking for me.
I threw the covers aside and walked into the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, I splashed cold water onto my face.
When I finally looked up, Emily Vance stared back at me.
Not Cora.
"Cora is gone," I whispered to my reflection, trying to convince myself.
---
The executive floor was already busy when I arrived. People hurried through the hallways with coffee cups in hand, greeting one another as they rushed to their early meetings.
I smiled when they smiled and answered every greeting, pretending everything was normal.
The quarterly meeting began exactly on time. Department heads presented their reports while I stood beside the screen, recording notes on my tablet.
Normally, I never missed a detail.
But today, it was difficult to stay out of my head. I kept reading the same figures over and over without taking any of them in.
"...Emily?"
I blinked.
Every eye turned toward me. Heat rushed to my face.
"I'm sorry?"
Mr. Rivers looked at me from the head of the table.
"The revised fourth-quarter projections."
"Right."
I quickly pulled up the correct file, trying not to let anyone see how flustered I was.
For the rest of the meeting, I could feel Mr. Rivers watching me as I tried my best to avoid making eye contact.
And somehow... that was worse.
The meeting finally came to an end.
Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone gathered their laptops and files. Quiet conversations filled the room as the executives filtered out one by one.
I reached for my tablet and my files, ready to leave.
"Emily."
I looked up.
"Stay for a minute."
My stomach tightened at the thought that I was in trouble because of my display of incompetence earlier. I waited until the last person left before closing the conference room door behind me.
The silence felt strangely loud.
Mr. Rivers remained seated at the head of the table, studying me for a long moment before speaking.
"You've been distracted all morning."
I lowered my eyes to the tablet in my hands.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"I'm not asking for an apology." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
"I'm asking what's wrong."
I forced a small smile.
"I didn't sleep well."
"That's all?"
"Yes, sir."
His gaze didn't leave mine.
"It won't affect my work." I said.
"You've never given me a reason to question your work."
The words hung between us. I looked away first.
"It's just been a long week," I said, trying to reassure him.
He didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push any further.
Instead, he slid a black folder across the table.
"I have something else I'd like to discuss."
I picked up the folder and opened it.
Across the first page were the words:
Confidential Partnership Agreement
I frowned in confusion. What did this have to do with me?
"I don't understand."
"I need someone to play my partner for three weeks."
I stared at him, waiting for him to smile.
He didn't.
"You're serious."
"I don't joke around, Emily."
"But why me?"
"Because I trust you."
Hearing those words made me uneasy. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
He leaned back in his chair.
"I'm closing a deal with Nakamura Holdings next month, and public image matters to them. They want to see stability."
"And pretending to date your secretary shows stability?"
"Not necessarily, but it stops people from asking questions about my personal life."
I couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"Public appearances, charity events, and business dinners. That's all that's expected of you."
"And behind closed doors?"
"We go back to being employer and employee."
"So this stays professional?" I asked.
"Strictly professional."
I looked down at the contract again.
"I don't think people are going to believe we're suddenly together."
"They already think we spend more time together than anyone else in this building."
I blinked.
"They do?"
A faint smile appeared on his face. "You'd be surprised what people assume."
"I know this is unusual," he continued. "If you're uncomfortable, you can say no."
I thought about it for a minute. It was only for three weeks, and I needed a distraction too.
Maybe this was exactly what I needed. Something that would keep me from going home and sitting alone with my thoughts.
"When would it start?"
"This weekend."
"And after three weeks?"
"We end it."
"Like nothing happened? Wouldn't that raise suspicion among your business partners? Wouldn't it make it look like it was all just a game?"
"You have nothing to worry about, Emily. I'll handle whatever comes after. You won't be involved."
I studied him for a moment.
He wasn't asking for anything more than what was written on the pages in front of me.
No hidden intentions. Just business.
"I'll do it."
He gave a single nod.
"Good. I'll have Legal prepare the final copy."
---
By the time the contracts were signed, the office had almost emptied.
I packed my bag and slipped on my coat.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Rivers."
"I'll drive you."
"Oh, no. You don't have to. I can manage on my own."
"I know."
There was something about the way he said it that made arguing feel pointless.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled up outside my apartment building. I thanked him quietly before getting out of the car.
As I walked toward my apartment door, something felt off.
I reached for the handle. Then I froze.
The door was slightly open. A chill ran down my spine.
I glanced back and saw Mr. Rivers' car still parked by the curb, as though he was waiting to make sure I got inside safely.
I tried to calm myself, but the expression on my face gave me away.
Without a word, he followed my gaze.
His expression changed instantly as he got out of the car and walked toward me.
"Stay here."
I ignored him and followed anyway. The apartment was destroyed. Books, clothes, cushions... everything had been ripped apart as though someone had searched every corner.
Then I saw the wall.
Fresh red paint dripped slowly toward the floor.
YOU CAN RUN.
BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE, C.
My breath caught. Whoever it was...
They knew who I was.
My legs suddenly felt weak. Mr. Rivers caught my arm before I could lose my balance.
His jaw tightened.
When he finally looked at me, his voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Pack whatever you still need."
I stared at him.
"I..."
"You're coming home with me tonight."